No Monday practice for chilly Cats

A referee holds back Northwestern basketball coach Chris Collins as he yells at his team in the first half against UIC. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

Chris Collins’ voice sounds like it needs some R&R.

Asked Monday morning about the raspiness, Collins replied: “It’s either that (time of the season) or the negative-50-degree wind chill. Not sure if it’s the on-court stuff or the weather.”

Northwestern canceled classes Monday for the first time since February 2011, and Collins gave his players the day off.

“Everybody is conscious of what’s going on with the weather,” he said. “Safety is of the utmost importance. Our guys have the day off today, but a number of them live across the street, so I know they will be popping in to work out on their own.”

The Wildcats have lost three straight to fall to 7-8 (0-2 Big Ten) in Collins’ first season. They travel to Iowa City on Thursday to face the 20th-ranked Hawkeyes, who are 12-3 (1-1) and nearly handed Wisconsin its first loss Sunday. The Badgers prevailed at home 75-71.

Then comes a huge pride game — the first of the Collins era — as Illinois visits at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

Northwestern has been ice cold from the field in its last four games, shooting 35.6 percent against Brown, 32.1 versus DePaul, 34.5 against Wisconsin and 38.8 on Sunday at Michigan.

Only Drew Crawford, averaging 16 points, is scoring with any regularity.

“It wears on you, mentally,” Collins said. “We’ve got to take some of that off Drew’s plate so he doesn’t get worn out every game.”